After a journey for 54 days, It has reached a stage where Chennai will meet Mumbai a dejavu of 2010 finals. Will Chennai make history repeat itself or Mumbai will help themselves to win their first ever IPL trophy.

Big Finals – Rohit Sharma won the important toss and decided to bat in a slow and tricky pitch. Not a ideal start would have wanted as Mumbai were three down with 16 on the board, with skipper being the last victim. Karthik along with Rayudu struck for a moment and made damage control to put Mumbai Indians back on track., Once karthik was dismissed in came Man from Caribbean, Kieron pollard, who owned this format of cricket, played a gem of an innings even though people around him kept walking away from him. He ended the match with two monumental back to back sixes to give Mumbai a good score of 148/9 in a tricky pitch.

Chennai needing less than 150 to win, got off to a dreadful start, losing 3 wickets that of Hussey, Raina & Badrinath with just 3 on the board. It was Karthik & Rayudu who did the damage control form Mumbai from same position, but Vijay & Bravo failed to do and Jadeja followed with a worst shot of his lifetime to get out for a duck. Which made CSK 39/6 in the half way. Chennai was left alone with their skipper to do the job, but even for him it was too big pill to swallow. However he tried as much as he could, which is clearly visible by the fact, Dhoni has scored 63 runs and all the other 10 players put together scored just 62 runs. In the end Mumbai Indians won their first ever IPL trophy and became the champs of IPL 2013/Season 6.

However even before Mumbai could soak in the happiness of lifting the cup, Sachin announced himself saying that he is retiring from the IPL cricket. Expected him to play for one more season, but still Legend has made his call when his team has delivered a the icing in cake for him.

Mumbai Indians won the match 23 runs…

Mumbai Indians are the champions Indian Premier League Season 6…

Awards & Winners of IPL 2011:

Young Player of the Tournament – Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals.

Catch of the season – Gurkreet Mann Singh of Kings XI Punjab (for the catch of Ross Taylor)

Longest Six of the tournament – Chris Gayle (119 meters against PWI)

Orange Cap – Michael Hussey (733 runs in 17 IPL innings)

Purple Cap – Dwayne Bravo (32 wickets in 17 innings)

Fair play award – Chennai Super Kings

Most valuable Player – Shane Watson of Rajasthan Royals.

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 54:

– This is just the 13th match out of 37 played in Eden gardens won by team batting first.

– Mitchell Johnson now has 16 wickets in powerplay overs highest by any bowler for this season; he was closely followed by Mohit Sharma with 15.

– Rohit Sharma has just scored 12 runs in all the three playoff matches.

– 3/34 is the worst powerplay score for Mumbai for this season.

– This is fourth time a team has lost 6 wickets before scoring 50 runs, CSK have been there twice and both against Mumbai.

– History continues to repeat as table toppers in league stage have never won the tournament, this time CSK loses it after topping the table.

– 4/42 by Bravo is the second most expensive spell in IPL after picking 4 wickets.

– 148 runs target set Mumbai Indians is the lowest for an IPL final which is held in India. Deccan’s set 143 in 2009 but it was in SA.

– This is also the first time Mumbai have defeated Chennai in a knockout situation games.

– Dwayne Bravo became the first bowler to pick 32 wickets in an IPL season, previous best was 28 by Malinga.

– It is an ironical fact none of the Orange cap winner’s have been able to help their team to win the trophy, IPL 1 – Shaun Marsh, IPL 2 – Matthew Hayden, IPL 3 – Sachin, IPL 4 and 5 – Chris Gayle IPL 6 – M Hussey.

– It is also an ironical fact that Chennai have lost all their matches played on a Sunday in this season, and continued the trend even in finals.

Just two games left for this season of IPL, and one is here today, Qualifier 2 between Underdogs Rajasthan taking on Mighty Mumbai Indians. Mumbai missing out against CSK will have a second chance to make it to finals, spirited Royals will look to make to the finals for the second time in their IPL career.

Qualifier 2, Dravid won the toss and decided to bat first, as always Dravid & Rahane gave a decent start of 44 runs for the first wicket before Rahane sweeps one between legs of Harbhajan to be castled. Quick two wicket in 8th & 9th over pushed Royals back, Dravid & Binny struck for a brief moment before Dravid was out to a loose shot off Bhajji again. However Yagnik & Hodge again propelled royals to a good score of 165 with some innovative shots. Bhajji was the star for Mumbai as he picked three crucial wickets & two important catches to add.

Needing 166 to win, Mumbai got off to a best start you could ask for, both Tare & destructive smith put on 70 runs in 9 overs. Later was dismissed off copper for 35. Karthik tied ends with Smith to continue the chase. Sudden surge of wickets gave Dravid’s Men a thin line of hope but Rayudu held his nerve to score 15 runs of penultimate over from Cooper, which almost sealed the game for Mumbai. However Rishi Dhawan first ball paddle sweep made it sure that Mumbai will face Chennai for the second time in IPL finals. Will it be Chennai again or Mighty Mumbai will lift the cup for the first ever time…? Answer has to be awaited till Sunday…

Mumbai Indians won the match 4 wickets with 1 ball to spare…

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 52:

– This is just second time in 16 matches Rajasthan have failed to defend a score of 165+.

– 3-23 is the second best figures for this season, falling behind 3-14.

– Pollard’s wicket of Kevon cooper is the 50th in his IPL career.

– Dravid has hit 69 fours this season which is the most by him in any IPL season; previous best was 67 fours in last season.

– Today is the second time Dravid has played beyond 15 overs in 17 innings of this season.

– This is 7th time Mumbai have chased a score 165+ out of 21 times they have chased.

Eliminator it is as the name sounds, Team who loses today will get a knockout blow for this season, Winner will meet Mumbai in Kolkata for the Qualifier 2.

Sunrisers Won the toss and decided to bat first, Not off to a ideal start lost their inform opener Parthiv & Vihari cheaply as the scoreboard read 2 for 3 in 2.3 overs. Dhawan & White played the restructuring innings with a fifty partnership between both, but it came very slowly which help Royals to keep their nose ahead at all point. However Sammy gave the much needed impetus to up the scoring rate, but it was halted by one of the superp runout from the deep. Few lusty blows from Perara & Samantray helped SRH to post yet another 130+ score, 132/7 in 20 overs.

Royals will know its a tricky chase always especially with SRH bowling’s fire power. Dravid started of confidently scoring three boundaries before leading edged to point. Watson continued from where Dravid left, kept the run rate moving with few powerful blows over fence and to fence. However SRH came back strongly by picking one wicket in every over from 7-10. Which meant Royals are 57/5 in 10 overs. Samson & Hodge in the crease. Both played a singles innings for a while, Once Hodge felt he had his Eye in, he started going for shot which proved vital to keep the run rate under check at all time. Once you think game sailing towards Royals, Came Steyn to remove Samson. But Hodge & Faulkner in the the crease made sure they are crossing the line safely. It is Hodge in the end who hit the winning runs with two back to back sixes and making a mockery Pacifier. Underdogs now has two more steps to be the champs…

Rajasthan Royals won the match 4 wickets with 4 balls to spare…

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 50:

– Vikramjeet’s first over went for just two runs and he picked a wicket, which is the best over so far in IPL for him.

– Amit Mishra now has 21 wickets against Royals, the most by any bowler against any IPL team.

– 5/57 is the lowest ten over score by Rajasthan for this season.

– Brad Hodge now has first fifty for this season, overall in T20 career, 37th which equals the highest with Chris Gayle.

– Now Brad Hodge is the leading run getter in T20 cricket with 5548 runs, closely followed by Chris Gayle with 5512 runs.

Last week in IPL 6 and it starts with Top two teams in the table meet to decide who is gonna get the double promotion and be there on a Big Sunday.. Is it going to be fifth time for Chennai or second time for Mumbai…?

Qualifier 1, Dhoni won the coin and decided to bat first, When the big day comes, Chennai is totally a revamped team, CSK got off to a good start with 52 runs before losing Vijay while trying to up the run rate. Then came the partnership between Mr.Cricket Hussey & all time CSK star Raina, which changed the total complexion of the game. Hussey was subtle in his touch & class in anchoring along with Raina who showed the pure aggression & T20 style of batting. Both put on a 140 runs partnership in 76 balls which helped CSK to post a taunting 192/1 in 20 overs.

Mumbai without Sachin lost Aditya tare very early, but however Dwayne Smith scored a blistering blitzkrieg fifty of 21 balls to get Mumbai off to a flyer. But its that man again with golden arm for Dhoni, Sir Jadeja who picked the dangerous Smith at 68 of 28 balls. Once he is out suddenly Mumbai looked like headless chickens. Karthik got out sweeping to a straight ball, followed Skipper Rohit Sharma. For a very Brief moment Pollard looked like turning on the game with two back to back sixes off Jadeja, But u always know you can’t get away from Sir, just after hitting two sixes, so he had the last laugh by dismissing him and picking the third wicket of the day in the very same over. From then it was just Catching session for CSK, as Mumbai batsmen came to scoop the balls in the air and CSK fielders made sure they picked every one of them without missing. In the end Mumbai were bowled out for 144 in 18.4 overs.

Chennai Super Kings won the match by 48 runs and through to the finals for the fifth time in 6 seasons of IPL…

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 49:

– Bravo picked up his 14th Catch of the tournament; he leads the list of highest catches taken for this season.

– Dwayne Smith scored his fifty in 21 balls, which is the fastest for him in his IPL career, bettering his previous best in 34 balls.

– Mumbai now have lost four games when they have been asked to chase more than 190+.

– 192/1 is the CSK highest score with just losing a single wicket.

– 4-0-45-0 spell by Malinga is the most expensive one in IPL.

– 140 runs partnership between Hussey & Raina was the third time both involved more than 100 runs partnership. List is topped by Gayle & Kohli pair with 5 century partnership.

– 51 runs scored by CSK in last five overs against Mumbai is the highest by any team for this season.

– 47 runs scored by CSK in powerplay overs is the highest for CSK against Mumbai , also this first time against Mumbai they have never lost a wicket till the powerplay overs were finished.

– Michael Hussey scored his 6th IPL fifty for this season and first against Mumbai Indians in his IPL career.

– 28 wickets taken by Bravo equals the most wickets taken in an IPL season along with Lasith Malinga in 2011.

– Chennai has qualified into all the finals when IPL was held in Indian Soil. In season two they were knocked out in playoffs were it was played in South Africa.

Last two league games of this season of IPL 6. Both are important in their own ways, One game will decide who is going to be the wooden spooners and the other to decided the final entrant for the playoff’s.

Game 1, Who will be the wooden spooner’s…? Delhi or Pune, both lock horn for the one last time for this season. Finch won the toss and decided to bat first, Uthappa departed early but skipper stayed for bit more long to get himself a fifty in 34 balls. How ever star was Luke wright who gave the electric finish to sedated Pune’s innings with 23 ball 44 runs. Pune finished with their best home score 172/5 in 20 overs. What to write about Delhi’s batting except for one thing, that they definitely played like a team who is going out with a wooden spoon. Dismal and sad effort from a prolific batting composition. Pathan & Gautam played for some time to improve their career runs. In the end Delhi finished at 134/9 in 20 overs.

Pune Warriors India won the match by 38 runs…

Game 2, Last league game and a very important game as to decide the final team to enter the playoff’s. Sunrisers need to win to enter the playoff’s, if they lose RCB will sneak through for the eliminator match against Rajasthan. Gambhir won the toss and decided to bat first, both Bisla & Gambhir started off very slowly and it continued to be the trend as they never got going even at the latter stages Yusuf pathan once again played a handy knock of 49 runs of 29 balls to get a decent score of 130/7 in 20 overs. Sunrisers on the other hand started off blazing with Parthiv & Dhawan both firing in their ends. A good partnership of 89 runs came to end with a needless reverse sweep from Dhawan. Suddenly panic button was pressed in SRH camp as they lost other 3 wickets on a trot. Sammy’s playing out a maiden of Narine & Perara yorked by Shami Ahmed made even more tensed game for SRH. However T20 wold cup winning captain Darren Sammy made sure the win came from two consecutive sixes of Iqbal Abdulla to make Sunrisers to get into Playoff’s in their very first season.

Sun Risers Hyderabad won the match by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare…

Final Standings as on DAY 47:

So here is the final four which make the cut for the season 6 of IPL.

Chennai will take on Mumbai in the Qualifier 1, followed by Eliminator with Rajasthan Vs Hyderabad.

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 47:

– 600 runs between Uthappa & Finch is the highest by any pair for any wicket for this season of IPL.

– 456 runs scored by Aaron finch is the most scored by any Pune Batsman in the IPL history.

– 508 runs conceded by Umesh Yadav for this season is the highest ever he has conceded in any season.

– 172 runs scored by Pune in their home ground is the highest ever in IPL so far.

– KKR’s 100 came off 102 balls, which is the slowest for them in this season.

– Gautam Gambhir is now run out in IPL for the 10th time, equalling the table topper Venugopal Rao.

– This is first time Gambhir hasn’t scored a boundary in the full power play overs and remained not out till the power play overs.

– Sunrisers have won 7 out of 8 games in their home ground, only loss came against CSK.

– 89 runs partnership between Parthiv Patel & Dhawan for the first wicket is the highest for any wicket for SRH for this season.

– Cameron White picked his 10th catch of this season, making him the fourth in the list of highest catches for this season, list is topped by Bravo with 12.

Game 1, Last game in cricket field for the Australian Wicket keeping legend Gilchrist. Rohit won the toss and decided to field first, Both the openers didn’t make a big impression as they departed with 6 on the board. It was left to Azhar Mahmood & Marsh to take the KXIP into safety, which they both did perfectly with timed aggression with a partnership of 148 runs. Later scoring 80 of 44 balls and Marsh got 63 from 47 balls. Manan Vohra late 20 made sure KXIP scored 183 in 20 overs. Mumbai was totally out of form today, no one looked to get going at any point and credit also goes to KXIP bowlers who kept Mumbai always in the bay. However best part is when Gilly bowled the last over for the first time in his cricketing career and picked wicket in the very first ball. Later followed the Gilly’s own version of Gagnam style to end the veteran’s cricketing career.

Kings XI Punjab won the match by 50 runs…

Game 2, Just time pass for the crowd should we call it, rain curtailed match and 8 overs per side. Tailor made situation for players like Gayle, Kohli & ABD. RCB in a do or die situation came really good with skipper leading from the front scoring a quick fifty. Few skiers from Gayle in the middle overs made sure to get mammoth 106/2 in 8 overs. CSK never got into chase, late strike from Dhoni & Vijay made sure CSK scored 82 runs. RCB won a very important game and now they will be hoping KKR to win the game against SRH tomorrow and make way for RCB to playoff’s.

Royal Challengers Bangalore won the match by 24 runs…

Standings as on DAY 46:

All eyes on tomorrow’s last game of this season, which will decide the last spot of playoff’s. KKR wins – RCB through, if SRH wins they go through. Simple equation, without any doubt the whole Bangalore will be watching the match rather than Kolkata.

Been a gap in the IPL updates, heavy travel, troubled heath kept me away from the updates for a while. Happy to be back…

A very important game for Sunrisers to keep them in the hunt of Playoff’s position. Cameron white won the toss and decided to Bat first, and he would have thought a dreadful start even in dreams as SRH lost Dhawan, Parthiv & Cameron White for just 5 on the board. Vihari along with Samantray steadied a bit, before going for a skier. Sammy joined Samantray and scored very important 56 runs between them, Late strike from Perara made sure Sunrisers scored 136/9 in 20 overs. Bowling star was Faulkner who picked up his second 5 wickets haul against Sunrisers for the second time for this season. Chasing 130+ was never easy in the Hyderabad pitch and it proved to be again. Dravid had a good opening but apart from him everyone else struggled in the pitch. No one from Rajasthan got going, last minute rush from Kevon Cooper made sure Royals didn’t lose it big. In end Royals were strangled at 113/9 in 20 overs. A Spell of 4-0-8-2 from Amit Mishra which proved too much for Royals in the end.

Sun Risers Hyderabad won the match by 23 runs…

Standings as on DAY 45:

This win means RCB have to win their game tomorrow against CSK to stay in the tournament, if they lose its curtains. With this win Sunrisers also knocked mathematical chance of KXIP for qualifying.

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 45:

– James Faulkner became the first bowler to pick two 5 wickets haul in the same season of IPL history.

– Amit Mishra is the 6th Batsmen to be out for a diamond duck.

– Both the five fers of James Faulkner has come against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

– Biplab Samantray scored his Maiden fifty in IPL career.

– Sunriser’s Fifty of 67 balls equalled the slowest for this season along with Pune.

– Rahul Dravid became the 13th player to score more than 400 runs for this season.

– James Faulkner’s 5/16 is the best bowling figures for this season bettering his previous best 5/20 against the same opposition Sunrisers.

– 113/9 is the lowest score by Rajasthan have scored for this season. Previous was 117 Vs RCB.

– Stuart Binny is finally dismissed after 8 games on a trot remaining not out.

– A six to start off for Dravid is the seventh in his IPL career, where he has hit a six inside power play overs.

– Rajasthan became the first team to finish off all their 16 games for this season.

Double header again on IPL, in no time its Match 58 & 59. 13 more to go after today…

Game 1, Another PWI’s dismal show and this time against mighty Mumbai Indians. PWI scored 112 in 20 overs which is not even a contest for Mumbai even though continued to pick wickets in regular interval. Over & all one thing to mention is Mumbai finally fielded their Million dollar man Glenn Maxwell as Pollard was injured. Misery Mitchell finished the neat job for Mumbai in the first innings to set the tone and Bhajji finished it with a Bhagnam dance to move second spot in points table.

Mumbai Indians won the match by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare…

Game 2, Sunrisers took on KXIP on a very important game, Being a must win game, Sunriser’s finally came good with bat, thanks to Parthiv patel 61 and late contribution from Perara. 150 exactly on the board, KXIP on a tricky chase lost Mandeep early, however none of KXIP batsmen showed no hurry in chase and went in a very slow pace, which back fired them in the end. Even Pomersbach being not out in crease didn’t help in the course of victory. Sunrisers won the game comfortably in the end.

Sun Risers Hyderabad won the match by 30 runs…

Standings as on DAY 39:

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 39:

– PWI have lost their 12th game in a row now.

– Rajagopal Satish scored the 500th IPL six for this season.

– Virat Kohli became the third player to score 500+ runs in IPL 6.

– Jaidev Unadkat became the second player to get a 5fer for this season.

– J. Unadkat 5/25 is also the best bowling figures in his IPL career.

– 4-0-8-2 is the most economical spell bowled by Mitchell Johnson is the best by any bowler for this season.

– Virat Kohli became the 11th batsmen to score 99 runs in T20 international among the 11, 9 were remained not out, only Virat & Hales are to be dismissed in 99.

– 61 runs scored by Parthiv patel is his career best, bettering his previous best 57.

– Out of 13 matches played by SRH, on 10 occasions they failed to reach 100 runs in 10 times.

– Pune Warriors have fielded 25 players till today highest by any team in IPL.

– Dwayne smith became the third victim to be out in the very first ball of innings.

– Pune Warriors have not even scored a boundary in the last 9 overs, and its second time they have done it.

– Mandeep became the first player to be out on a pair for this season.

A very important game for three side to be in playoff’s on a double header day.

Game 1, KXIP took on Royals, both needing a win, especially KXIP. Dravid won the coin and decided to field first as he always wanted to be. KXIP lost Mandeep Singh in the very first over, which meant Skipper Gilly who is back in the side has to put down his natural game and has to consolidate with his country man Marsh. That’s what happened as both put on a century stand but in 13 overs, not very much likely for a destructive pair. None other than these were worth mentioning as KXIP ended less than par score of 145/6 in 20 overs. Cooper picked a 3/23 in 4 overs. Dravid went early with just 5 runs on the board, But Rahane & Watson continued their good form to build a platform of 66 runs between which allowed Sanju samson along with Rahane to finish the match with an over to spare. This win also means Royals are almost into playoff, provided some one doesn’t play a bluff.

Rajasthan Royals won the match 8 wickets with 6 balls to spare…

Game 2, KKR needed a win just to keep their mathematical hope alive as KXIP lost the previous match. Skipper Gambhir finally played a more sensible innings along with Ten Doeschate to keep KKR scoreboard moving Late strike from Bhatia & Tiwary made sure KKR crossed 150, as they ended 152/6 in 20 overs.As usual Pune continued to display a poor & pathetic performance with bat. Uthappa & Mathews scored couple of 30’s apart from that nothing to highlight in the Pune’s batting card.

Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 46 runs…

Standings as on DAY 37:

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 37:

– 40 runs scored by Matthews is the highest for this season.

– Bisla stumped by Rawat off Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is the first stumping for Bhuvaneshwar in his career, overall in this season it is sixth for a seam bowler.

– Pune has never won a game against KKR, stat is 4-0 including today.

– Rajasthan royals won their 7th game in straight while chasing.

– Rahane scored 4th IPL fifty of this season and 10th overall in his IPL career.

– Chawla has picked Watson thrice including today, highest by any bowler in IPL.

– 102 runs between Gilly & Marsh is the third century partnership for this season for KXIP and it is also the slowest of all three.

As expected Chennai became the first team to qualify for the play offs. Sun risers won the toss and decided to field first. But Sanga’s decision to bowl first was good for just first 6 balls. Murali Vijay then took Ishant for hat trick of sixes. Later he departed, Hussey & raina displayed a subliminal form of batting. A pleasure it was when Raina was striking it exactly in the covers of off side where field will not be able to get too. Raina finished the innings with a boundary and left stranded in 99*. CSK scoring a mammoth 223/4 in 20 overs.. Sunrisers never looked like chasing at any point of time, Dhawan was the man who could have pulled out some miracles but spot on Dhoni removed him cheaply, later it was a procession and CSK sealed the deal as the time passed.

Chennai Super Kings won the match by 77 runs…

Standings as on DAY 36:

Interesting Stats IPL 6 Day 36:

– This is the first game won by a team batting first in Hyderabad for this season.

– Sunrisers lost their first game in home for this season; they have now won 5 games out 6 played in Hyderabad.

– Dale Steyn Bowled the 30th Maiden of this season.

– Mike Hussey has played out 3 Maidens including the one he played in the first over.

– 50 runs scored in first six overs by CSK is the highest for any team in Hyderabad, previous best was 41 by Home team.

– 91/1 in ten overs is also the highest for this venue bettering Sun risers 61 runs.

– Mike Hussey now has 5 fifties for this season, highest by any player.

– Amit Mishra bowled the first No-ball of his career in IPL, he has bowled 1554 balls before delivering a no ball today.